NO law for you, madam. None for you, sir!

Sometimes we find that those caught up in the law, the law-preachers themselves would see it as their duty and mission to convince those who are free in Christ to do the law and keep the law.

First century church challenge?

Sadly, it is true even today.

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Act 15:5 

The age-old thorn-in-the-flesh scenario

Understanding Faith as co-heir

Need more Faith?

Have enough Faith?

Lost your Faith?

Grow in Faith?

If ever we wanted to understand Faith the book of Hebrews is the one we need to consult thoroughly.

... enters the wolf in sheep clothing...

I tend to be very focused on what the Holy Spirit teaches me during my early morning or late afternoon jogging - alone time ... One-to-one. 

And so, I was asked about the wolf in sheep's clothing ... 

I thought I was through with teachings about the sheep ... and that I knew this thing about wolves dressing up as sheep ...

... wonderful surprise!

Mindful of the Shepherd and sheep ... again!

Just as I thought I had the whole idea of the Shepherd and the sheep (see here and here), the Holy Spirit serves up a fresh message that totally lines up with the first two ...

Once again I am stunned!

Sheep - hook onto the power of life

In my post on "The Highest Reveals Grace - רעה Shepherd," I promised to say something about the sheep (the flock)? Surely, if the revelation regarding the Good Shepherd is so powerful and awesome, there must be something equally profound about the sheep as well?

Well, here goes...

Some will know the Mystery ... others not ...

There is a Mystery.

When Jesus spoke to the multitudes He always spoke in parables. 

Even today when reading what Jesus said to the multitudes, we are reading a parable.

Matthew 13:34 says: All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them

We need to search, read and comprehend with a holy understanding that is freely available from the Holy Spirit, the One Jesus sent to teach us all things.

Again ... there is a  Mystery and It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Pro 25:2 Remember this post?

Better translated this proverb says that Father God hides (conceal or sathar) carefully a matter (dabar -His Word) [also to hide one self] in order that kings (us) may seek out (chaqar - to examine intimately) that matter (dabar - his Word, Jesus) - in the new testament we are kings, prophets and priests. We can seek it (Him) out.

So what's with the Mystery?

Jesus tells the parable of the sower in Mark 4 and how the Gospel would fall away amongst some who hear it, except where it falls in good (worthy or admirable) ground (occupants of land). 

He then explains to the disciples afterwards in Mark 4:11 that ... Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables, AND QUOTING ISAIAH 6:9 HE GOES ON FURTHER: so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn (epistrephō - turn to God), and their sins be forgiven them (aphiēmi - actually means, in the intensive form, to accept that their sins had been totally annihilated or sent away). That's the Gospel!

Jesus then explains that the parable of the sower is a key-parable to understand other parables.

So, again what is all this about the Mystery?

Jesus is the Mystery!

The Word Mystery or mustērion (from the Greek root word muo, conveys the idea that those who experience a situation (True Grace - Jesus) will be left completely speechless,  dumbstruck and to be utterly astonished (over His goodness and kindness and love and mercy). The word mustērion occurs 27 times in the New Testament, the bulk of which refers to Jesus Himself.

Let's have a look at some mustērion:

Eph 3:3 - How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery ...

1Co 2:7 - But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory

Rom 16:25 - ... Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began

Eph 1:9 - Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself

Eph 5:32 - This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church

Col 1:26 - Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints

Col 4:3 - ... praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ

He is the Mystery Lover ready to be discovered by the beloved ...

He is the Mystery Pursuer of those who wander in lost condemnation ...

He is the Mystery Contact to those of double-minded confusion ...

He is the Mystery, very present Comfort in the time of need ...

... our Healer ...

... our Redeemer ...

... our Restorer ...

... our Perfect Gift ...

... our every Need ...

... our Friend and Lover ...

Indeed, it is the honour of kings to search out the King of kings, the Great Mystery, Who reveals Himself openly in His Word By His Spirit!

HalleluYAH!

... being stalked by the law ...

What happens to Paul when the Truth is revealed to the people of Lystra and someone cripple from the mother's womb is instantly healed?

What happens when everyone, as a result, is awestruck and amazed?

The Highest reveals Grace רעה Shepherd

Jesus makes a lot of effort when He explains Himself as being both the shepherd and the door.

What is this all about?

Why the analogy?

The whole of the old covenant is full of prophets an prophecies showing Israel as a nation (sheep) scattered upon the hills having no Shepherd (Numbers 27:17, 1 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 18:16, etc.) 

... until David reveals:

 "יהוה is my shepherd; I do not lack." Psa 23:1

There are two key words here we should take note of. It is going to totally blow us away:

Job's quest ... God the same for all? DIY God?

I am often amazed, and frankly heartbroken, when interacting with people in hospitals. They explain that "their" God brought them there to "teach them a lesson," to "slow them down," or to refine their families through sickness, accidents, and physical pain.

Wait... what?

These are often people who identify as believers. It makes me ask: Are we even worshipping the same God?

Understanding - to put it all togegher!

Being brainwashed reduces man to a helpless, limited and restricted being ... pitiful and powerless in this world. 

Jesus said it so many times. The problem is our unbelief.

Our unbelief is the direct result of our so-called doctrinal heritage - the stuff we hang onto.